The Guardian
From Destinypedia, the Destiny wiki
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| The Guardian | |
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| Biographical information | |
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Other name(s): |
Hivebane |
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Species: |
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Race: |
Player-determined |
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Gender: |
Player-determined |
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Hair color: |
Player-determined |
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Eye color: |
Player-determined |
| Political and military information | |
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Affiliation: |
Vanguard |
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Rank: |
Guardian |
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Class: |
Player-determined |
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Notable info: |
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- "All of the after-action reports I've shown you about the Taken War, the calm state of the system… we have this Guardian to thank. I've attached more details, if you want to read evaluations from the Vanguard. Just skim Cayde's. He's… not very biased, here."
- — Grimoire description[1]
The Guardian is a protector of the Last City and a new-generation Iron Lord, who has participated in numerous legendary battles to retake Humanity's past from various malevolent forces.
Despite their lack of memory, at the request of the Speaker, the Guardian joined the fight against the City's foes. During their exploits, they met a mysterious stranger who put them on the path to stopping the Vex, eventually resulting in an alliance with the Reef—something that would later prove invaluable to quelling the Wolf Rebellion. At the call of Eris Morn, they helped end the resurgence of Crota's forces and personally slew the God-Prince, thereby attracting the wrath of his father, but putting an end to him as well. Later, during the SIVA Crisis, the Guardian helped Lord Saladin prevent a techno-plague ravaging Earth from gaining sentience and was responsible for the deaths of various threats remaining after the Taken War.
At the beginning of Destiny 2, the Guardian returned to the Last City only to immediately face its invasion by the Red Legion. After confronting Dominus Ghaul, however, they were severely crippled, due to being stripped of the Light, and forced to retreat. After much sacrifice and determination, the Guardians succeeded in liberating their home, driving the Red Legion away, and awakening the Traveler from its centuries-long slumber, destroying Ghaul forever and restoring their Light-given powers. Despite this momentous victory, various figures of the Red Legion would attempt to carry on the Red War, either for their own purposes or to finish what Ghaul had started in his attempt to destroy the Guardians. Despite the presence of these new foes, in addition to several threats apart from the Red Legion, the Guardians maintained their strength and zeal.
Biography
- "[…]Claiming he's seen the future, that he fought Six Fronts fueled on the idea that some Guardian savior is coming? That's insane."
"Belief is a heck of a thing."
"Sure, yeah. One Guardian's going to fix everything. Kick Crota off the Moon. Make it look like us Vanguard know our head from our hindquarters. Hey, where are you going?"
"One of the new recruits from Old Russia I've had my eye on—entering the Crucible for the first time."
"Hey, maybe they're the one. We'll call 'em Crota's End." - — Cayde-6 and Lord Shaxx[2]
Pre-revival
On a mission during the Taken War, their Ghost guessed that prior to their resurrection, the Guardian may have once been a refugee seeking to escape the general chaos of the Collapse, and had somehow fallen by The Wall, resulting in their death.[3]
Destiny
A Guardian Rises
Centuries after the Collapse, the Guardian was found and resurrected by a lone Ghost searching the Cosmodrome, but before Ghost could explain what had happened, he was interrupted by the roar of a Fallen Captain who had been tracking him. Ghost then led the Guardian into The Wall and helped them find their first weapon—a battered, ancient Khvostov 7G-02. After foraging for more gear, the Guardian killed a Fallen Devil Captain Rahn and escaped in an Arcadia-Class Jumpship repaired by Ghost, just as Riksis, Devil Archon emerged. As the Guardian departed, the Fallen vainly attempted to shoot them down, the departure being watched by a mysterious stranger. After flying through a storm over many leagues of land, the Guardian arrived at The City, a place Ghost described as the "last safe city on Earth" and "the only place The Traveler can still protect".[4]
Defending Earth
The Guardian became acquainted with the various Tower residents, including the three Vanguard leaders, the Gunsmith, Master Rahool and the Bounty Tracker, as well as the Postmaster and Tower Shipwright, who helped repair their ship. During the tour, they visited other Tower residents of lesser importance, as well, including the three Faction leaders and Tess Everis.[citation needed]
Afterward, the Guardian returned to the Cosmodrome to find a Warp Drive. They located a downed Guardian's ship and learn the likely location of an existing drive. After battling and killing Riksis, they acquired the drive and returned to the Tower to have it installed. Later that night, as the Guardian looked up at the Traveler, they met the Speaker, who had been with the City since its foundation. The Speaker answered some unasked questions, namely what Ghosts are, and gave a brief summary of the Traveler's history with Humanity. He then confided in the Guardian his deepest fears: that the Darkness was returning, and that humanity wouldn't be able to survive it this time. Upon hearing this, the Guardian asked what they could do to help, and the Speaker encouraged them to join those already fighting to defend Earth until the Traveler could be awoken, adding wryly that he hoped Ghost chose his Guardian prudently, a comment the robot answered emphatically in the affirmative.[5]
Returning to the Cosmodrome at the request of the Speaker, the Guardian headed to the old Skywatch—a complex that once maintained communications with Earth's former colonies—and found the Fallen in an uproar. Pressing deeper into the Lunar Complex, the Guardian discovers another race of enemy: the Hive. After eliminating all of Hive they encountered, including a Wizard named Gotra, Eir Spawn, Ghost recalled that the Hive had not been seen on Earth for centuries, thus surmising that their presence there now may herald another invasion.[6]
Locating Rasputin
Shortly thereafter the Vanguard reported an upsurge in Fallen activity all over the Cosmodrome. Connecting to the vehicle grid, the Guardian made their way to the Forgotten Shore riding their Sparrow, and found a Fallen amplifier. After searching for a second one, Ghost discovered that both were linked to the Skywatch, and they made their way to the next. Finding a Fallen encampment inside the Terrestrial Complex, they defeated the aliens and Ghost hacked into one of their machines. Upon doing so, he encountered some resistance from an unknown entity, and investigated further while the Guardian defended him against the Fallen forces. After Ghost retrieved the necessary data, they destroyed the machine, and Ghost reported the existence of an ancient Warmind, Rasputin, who somehow survived the Collapse and was defending something later revealed to be the Terrestrial Array within the Cosmodrome.[7]
In an effort to raise this Array, the Guardian found a lost Dead Orbit team, extracting the codes from their dead Ghosts. Beating off the Hive, who have established a large presence there and were in conflict with the local Fallen, the Guardian entered the Terrestrial Complex once more. Sensing the increased presence of Darkness, Ghost quickly got to work opening up the Array, just as Hive Tombships arrived. As the Guardian again battled the oncoming Hive, including a Hallowed Knight, a satellite dish began pivoting skyward in the distance. Once the battle was over, Ghost reported that Rasputin took control of the array and was expanding his reach towards various constructs throughout the solar system.[8]
Shortly thereafter, at the request of Commander Zavala, the Guardian took deployed as part of a Strike team to eliminate Sepiks Prime, Prime Servitor of the House of Devils. Locating the Lair beneath a colony ship, the Guardian killed a Baron named Naksis and destroyed a Fallen Walker barring their way, then battled Sepiks. After a fierce fight the machine was finally destroyed, ending the Devils' threat.[9]
Awakening the Hive
On Earth's Moon, the Guardian picks up the trail of another Guardian who went dark searching for a way into the Hive fortress. After hacking a Golden Age colony base, the Guardian travels to the Temple of Crota where they fight off members of a shattered fallen house as well as Hive forces led by Wizard Vurok, Eir Spawn. Unable to save the Guardian, Ghost recovers the fallen guardians' Ghost's memories and learns that the Hive are raising an army to invade Earth. Just moments before engaging the Hive, the Guardian hears an unknown voice and catches a glimpse of the Exo Stranger just before the Temple doors open.[10]
In an attempt to uncover further information on what the Hive are planning, the Guardian infiltrates the The World's Grave and kills its keeper, Kranox, the Graven. The Guardian's Ghost then steals as much data as possible before the two return to warn the City.[11] After looking through Cryptarch records on the Temple, the Guardian infiltrates the Hellmouth once more and claims the Sword of Crota, killing its guards and shattering it in the process.[12] While inside the Hellmouth, the Guardian also follows a lead from the vanished Warlock Osiris, seeking the fabled Shrine of Oryx - a tribute altar. After killing Frigoris, Exiled Baron and his Fallen crew, the Guardian defeats the shrine's priest, Sardok, Eye of Oryx, and destroys the Shrine.[13]
After successfully decrypting the information from the World's Grave alongside the Cryptarchs, the Speaker broadcasts an urgent transmission to all Guardians claiming that a Hive ritual is draining the Traveler's Light and that nothing else is more important. The Guardian then returns to the Hive Temple and after receiving a message from the Exo Stranger inviting them to come find her if they are successful, kills the Siphon Witches, effectively preventing them from stealing any more of the Light.[14]
Uncovering the Vex
Following the Stranger's coordinates, the Guardian travels to the Ishtar Sink on Venus, where they are ambushed by alien cyborgs known as the Vex, described by Ghost as "war machines". After reactivating an extensive series of sensors established by other Guardians to track these machines, the Guardian meets with the Exo Stranger in the Ishtar Academy. There, she informs them of the Black Garden, the birthplace of the Vex, and a powerful entity responsible for keeping the Traveler in a state of catatonia.
Before the Guardian could ask any more questions however, the Stranger suddenly vanishes following a mysterious conversation with an unknown individual. Ghost suggests they go to the Awoken in order to find the Garden's location, an option he had brought up during the discussion. Wistfully he wonders if they could stay with the Vex, as the idea of traveling far into danger was not something he liked, and the Guardian jokingly calls him "little light" after the Stranger's remark. Ghost firmly objects.[15]
The Awoken
The Guardian travels to the distant Reef and is intercepted by two Awoken Guard Galiots who demand an explanation as to the Guardian's intrusion into Reef space. The Guardian states their mission and the Guardian is escorted to the Vestian Outpost. After gaining an audience with Queen Mara Sov, the Guardian meets with the Prince, Uldren Sov. Sov mockingly reveals he had been the one to let them in, and attempts to deny them an audience with his sister the Queen.
Two Fallen guards armed with spears emerge from behind the Queen's throne, however; alarmed, the Guardian seizes a weapon from one of the Awoken Guards and prepares to shoot just as Uldren puts a knife to the Guardian's throat; Mara's subsequent appearance defuses the hostilities and the prince apologizes. The Guardian reiterates their request for the location of the Black Garden. Despite this, Uldren denigrates them until his sister requests his council. After a moment of conferring, Uldren offers them a deal: they bring the head of a Vex Gate Lord and the Awoken would give them location of the Garden. In spite of the Guardian's skepticism and Ghost's stammering, the two set off for Venus once more, determined to succeed.[16]
Finding a Gate Lord
In order to find a Gate Lord, the Guardian travels to an old research station of the Ishtar Collective, defeating a Cyclops and analyzing its mind core. Armed with vital intel on the nature of the Vex as well as the means with which to summon the Gate Lord, the Guardian sets off.[17] While at the Ishtar Academy, the Guardian kills Grayliks, a Baron of House Winter, a High Servitor named Simiks-3, and secures an ancient Golden Age Archive for the Cryptarchs.[18]
During their mission, the Guardian takes a detour to hunt down Draksis, the Kell of House Winter, as reports place him in a nearby group of caves. Battling their way aboard the Ketch, they find and kill the Fallen leader as well as his guards.[19] Back on track with the Fallen threat dealt with momentarily, the Guardian reaches the Endless Steps. After summoning and slaying Zydron, Gate Lord, the Guardian returns to the Reef.[20]
A Bargain Made
The Guardian brings the Gate Lord's head before the Queen, to their astonishment. Reafirming their request for the location of the Black Garden a reluctant Uldren cuts out the now dead eye from the Gate Lord and gives the Guardian coordinates for the Garden's location. The Queen then addresses the Guardian directly, telling them they owe her. Courteously, the Guardian thanks her for her help and leaves, politely ignoring Uldren's mocking well-wishes.[21]
Crossing the Exclusion Zone
The Guardian flies to Mars, stronghold of the enigmatic Cabal, and infiltrate a scout bunker. There, they learn that the heavyset, militaristic aliens are locked in a massive attrition war with the native Vex with neither side gaining much ground. Venturing into Giants' Pass, they break into a local computer and trigger a response from the Cabal; after a brief battle, they kill a Bracus named Tho'ourg and retrieve his Access Key. Moving to the Valley of the Kings, they spot a mountain Cabal outpost standing guard before a vast Vex Gate seething with dark energies. Using the Access Key, the Guardian has Ghost hack into the Cabal network, learning that the Cabal have made significant progress in cracking Vex defenses. The Gate then starts surging with activity and they break off to defeat an onslaught of Vex, with Ghost remarking they would have to fight the Cabal after all.[22]
Journeying through the Scablands, they discover a Vex Spire deep within the Rubicon Wastes. Within the Legion's Keep they encounter an army of Cabal intent on stopping the intruders, their Primus, Sha'aul, leading them. As Ghost repowers the Gate Lord's eye - the Vex Conflux forming - the Guardian obliterates the enemies and kills the Primus without much effort.[23]
Upon a request from Master Rahool they venture to a buried city nearby and flush out the Cabal there. Atop an old Clovis Bray facility inside the Hollows they find the Cabal and Vex battling over a computer terminal. Killing Bracus Tha'aurn they clear out the opposing forces and secure the computer only to find that Rasputin has taken control of the old Martian Warmind's systems and locked it down.[24]
The Black Garden
Somehow aware of the Guardian's effort to breach the Garden, the Vex suddenly surge across Freehold, overwhelming the Cabal and forcing a response from the Guardian as well. Delving into the Tharsis Junction the Guardian destroys several active Transfer Gates, destroying a Vex Minotaur called the Prohibitive Mind in the process.[25]
The Guardian heads for the Vex Gate leading to the Black Garden, entering the Valley of the Kings before fighting off waves of Vex. Finally teleporting through the Gate as it reacts to the charged eye, the Guardian cautiously passes through a graveyard of frozen Vex, their immense age indicated by the plant life growing on them. Some activate and attack the Guardian but are subsequently destroyed. Battling their way across the Garden, they pass a cliff overlooking the Vex realm, Ghost remarking that "something dark" lay beneath, and eventually come upon a barrier blocking their way. After destroying the Divisive Mind Cyclops protecting it, the Guardian reaches the entrance to the Heart of the Garden. They activate another Spire directly before the Entrance itself. Ghost inputs the charged Gate Lord eye, and the Vex gate opens.
Inside the chamber they encounter a curious sight: dozens of ancient Vex kneeling with their arms apart before a large writhing mass of Dark energy within a large coliseum. Three large statues of Gate Lords ring the worship ceremony. As they look on, the Vex begin to react to their presence sluggishly, as if the arrival of an alien intruder was unfathomable to them. Ghost sarcastically inquires if the Guardian could kill a god, to which the Guardian replies they didn't "have much of a choice". The Heart pulses with energy, animating a nearby statue and commencing the battle. As each statue is brought to life, one by one—revealed to be the Eschaton Mind, the Imminent Mind, and the Primeval Mind—the Guardian destroys them. With the death of its protectors, the Heart grew visibly weaker; Ghost encourages the Guardian to keep fighting as t